World Ozone Day 2022: History, Significance And Theme — All You Need To Know
Jonathan Shanklin, a junior researcher with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), identified a break in the invisible screen that protects humans from solar radiation in the year 1985.
New Delhi: Every year on September 16, World Ozone Day, also known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is observed. The goal of its observation is to raise public awareness about Ozone Layer depletion and to look for potential remedies to control it.
World Ozone Day 2022 — A Brief History
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared September 16 as World Ozone Day in December 1994. This was done to mark the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in the year1987. According to the United Nations, the Montreal Protocol has resulted in the elimination of 99% of ozone-depleting compounds found in refrigerators, air conditioners, and a variety of other items.
From 1990 to 2010, ozone layer preservation measures helped to combat climate change by preventing an estimated 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
World Ozone Day 2022: When Was First Ozone Hole Discovered?
Jonathan Shanklin, a junior researcher with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), identified a break in the invisible screen that protects humans from solar radiation in the year 1985. Satellites revealed that the ozone hole covered an area of 20 million square kilometres.
The study resulted in the 1987 Monreal Protocol, which prohibited the manufacture and use of ozone-depleting chemicals at the present rates. This ozone hole is known as the Antarctic Ozone Hole, and recent ozone levels have dropped to as low as 33% of pre-1975 levels.
The pollution of the atmosphere with chemicals including chlorine and bromine is one of the causes of the ozone hole's formation. Because it has the ability to block UV-B radiation, which has a wavelength between 280 and 315 nanometers and is the most harmful type of UV radiation, the ozone layer is crucial for the survival of life on Earth.
The stratospheric temperature inversion is caused by the UV radiation's absorption by the ozone in the stratosphere, which warms the air around it.
World Ozone Day 2022 — Significance
This day is observed to serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving the ozone layer. It also draws attention to the need for more efficient solutions. Several analyses predict that the already damaged ozone layer will continue to have an influence for the next 5 to 10 decades. This may aggravate the situation for humans in the following days.
The ozone layer shields humans from the sun's deadly ultraviolet radiation. Ozone depletion also has a negative impact on the ecology by altering plant life cycles and disturbing the food chain. It is to blame for the shift in atmospheric patterns. Microscopic creatures such as plankton may not survive, and so species depending on plankton may perish.
The ozone layer's depletion may be reflected in wind patterns, global warming, and other health difficulties for humans and other animals, posing a threat to their existence.
World Ozone Day 2022: Preventive Measures To Protect World From Ozone Layer Depletion
The preventive measures that can be taken are as follows:
- Encourage planting and gardening to reduce pollution and bind hazardous chemical substances.
- Stop using things like hair fresheners, cosmetics, and other items that contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
- Use environmentally friendly fertilisers when farming.
- Avoid driving smoke-emitting cars; instead, opt for electric or other environmentally friendly automobiles.
- Avoid burning rubber and plastics because they release toxic smoke into the atmosphere.
World Ozone Day 2022: Theme
The theme of World Ozone Day 2022 is 'Global Cooperation to Protect Life on Earth to encourage sustainable development. The theme has been chosen as such to preserve human existence on Earth in order to safeguard the ozone layer and our environment.
Trending News
Top Headlines
